239 POLAND Area.... 388,000 sq. km. Population (xii. 1930 )... 31,148,000 Density per sq. km.... 80.3 I. Army. ORGANS OF MILITARY COMMAND AND ADMINISTRATION MINISTRY OF WAR. In time of peace, the War Minister is in direct command of the armed forces of the State and is in charge of their administration. For naval matters, there is a naval Directorate attached to the Ministry of War. INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF ARMED FORCES. The Inspector-General of Armed Forces has the rank of general or marshal and is the commander-in-chief, when one is appointed. He deals with all questions relating to the preparation of the armed forces, and is assisted by an advisory body, the Committee on Armament and Equipment. GENERAL STAFF. The General Staff is the agency of the Inspector-General of the armed forces as regards the preparation for war. It deals with all questions relating to the organisation of defence, mobilisation, the organisation of the units in time of war, etc. COMMITTEE OF NATIONAL DEFENCE. The Committee of National Defence examines problems of national defence and drafts the necessary recommendations. The Committee is presided over by the President of the Republic. The Prime Minister, the Ministers for War, Foreign Affairs, Finance and Interior form also part of the Commfttee. The Inspector-General of the Army is ex-officio rapporteur on matters considered by the Committee.
240 POLAND MILITARY AREAS. Iti. f IrP * I r^ -..x.. -,..*- 11 'o W AB " A, B.. 6' Z^ ~...-" ~ ~ ' P ' - r '" L--." - I Army corps headquarters. C /, -2 -Military boundan es. ^.. ^ :
POLAND 24I ORGANISATION AND COMPOSITION OF THE ARMY The armed forces of Poland consist of the land army, the air force and the navy. They come under the authority of the Ministry of War. I. Higher units. The Polish army consists of: 30 infantry divisions, including 3 divisions of mountain troops; i cavalry division; 12 independent cavalry brigades. These units are distributed over the io military areas into which the country is divided. An infantry division comprises 3 infantry regiments and i field artillery regiment. A cavalry division comprises 3 brigades of 2 regiments and i horse artillery group each; each brigade has also i pioneer squadron and i armoured-car squadron. An independent cavalry brigade consists of from 2 to 4 cavalry regiments, i horse artillery group, i pioneer squadron and i armouredcar squadron. 2. Arms and services. Infantry : 90 o regiments (including 6 mountain regiments); 2 light infantry battalions. An infantry regiment comprises 3 battalions of 4 companies each, i being a machine-gun company. A light infantry battalion has the same composition as an infantry battalion. Cavalry 40 regiments; 9 pioneer squadrons. A cavalry regiment consists of 4 line squadrons, i machine-gun squadron and i reserve squadron. Artillery: 30 field artillery regiments; io heavy field artillery regiments; I powerful heavy artillery regiment; i anti-aircraft artillery regiment (motorised); 6 independent anti-aircraft artillery groups (semi-fixed); 13 horse artillery groups; i artillery range-finding group; i foot artillery group ; i manoeuvre regiment of artillery. i6
242 POIAND Field artillery, heavy field artillery and heavy artillery regiments have 9 batteries each. The anti-aircraft artillery regiment has 6 batteries and i machinegun company. The anti-aircraft group has 2 batteries. Horse artillery groups have from 2 to 3 batteries. Range-finding groups consist of i sight-ranging battery and i soundranging battery. The foot artillery group has 3 batteries. Armoured Arm: I tank regiment; 2 motor machine-gun groups; 2 armoured train groups. The tank regiment consists of 3 battalions of 2 or 3 companies each, i motor machine-gun company and i tank park. The motor machine-gun group comprises 3 motor machine-gun squadrons, i training squadron and i park. The armoured-train group consists of 2 trains. Engineers : (a) 4 sapper brigades with a variable number of battalions, consisting of: 8 sapper battalions of 4 companies each; i bridging battalion of 4 companies each; 2 railway sapper bridging battalions of 4 companies each; i electrotechnical battalion of 4 companies; i engine battalion of 2 companies; (b) 8 telegraph battalions of 3 companies each; (c) I wireless telegraphy regiment of 3 battalions. Air force 3 air commands, comprising: 6 flying regiments; 2 balloon battalions. The composition of commands varies. A flying regiment consists of 2 to 3 groups, each of 2 to 3 flights. A balloon battalion comprises 3 companies. Air Material : 7o00 aeroplanes with a total horse-power of 262,290. Transport: Horse transport : 2 groups and 8 group cadres. Motor transport : 3 groups and 7 group cadres. The army also comprises a remount service, an ordnance service, a supply service, an army medical service, etc. 1 The air material comprises all the aeroplanes in service.
POLAND 243 SUMMARY TABLE OF UNITS. Battalions Divisions Brigades Regiments or artillery groups Infantry.... 30-90 273 Cavalry... I 18 40 Artillery : Field... - - 30 90 Heavy field... - - 0 30 Heavy long range...... I 3 Anti-aircraft... - -- 8 Horse... -- -- 13 Foot.... - - Engineers... 4 2 244 Air force... -. 6 - Armoured arm: Tanks....... 3 Armoured cars. 2 Armoured trains... - - - a I Including 12 independent brigades. 2 Including 3 light infantry battalions. 3 Including 6 independent. * Including 3 wireless telegraphy battalions. GENDARMERIE, POLICE, FRONTIER ZONE PROTECTION CORPS AND FRONTIER GUARD Gendarmerie. The gendarmerie is a military force for the maintenance of public security and order. It is controlled by the military authorities, and consists of io groups, each having from 3to 8 platoons. Police. The police forces comprise: (i) The State police force; (2) The frontier zone protection corps; (3) The frontier guard. These forces have a military organisation, but do not form part of the army. The first two are under the Ministry of the Interior, and the third under the Ministry of Finance. The police force is recruited by voluntary enlistment for a term of 4 years, from men who have completed their military service. Members of the police force are not given military training, but are taught the use of firearms and sidearms. The command of the frontier zone protection corps is organised on the lines of the staff of an army corps area and is directly subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. Dismounted forces. are armed in the same way as the infantry, and the mounted forces in the same way as the cavalry.
244 POLAND The frontier zone protection corps, which is organised on a military basis, consists of 6 brigades comprising a certain number of infantry regiments and battalions and of cavalry squadrons. The frontier guard, which is a corps organised on a military basis, is responsible for the economic protection of the frontiers which are not defended by the frontier zone protection corps. RECRUITING SYSTEM AND PERIOD OF SERVICE. Military service is compulsory. It lasts for 29 years (from 21 to 50), and is divided as follows: Regular Army. - Two years (cavalry and horse artillery 2 years and i month). In practice, I8 months, as on the expiration of this period men are sent on furlough. Reserve. - Service in the reserve commences on completion of service in the regular army, and continues up to the age of 40. Reservists are called up during this period for training not exceeding 14 weeks in all (6 weeks at most on any one occasion). Territorial Army. - After completing their service in the reserve, men are posted to the territorial army, where they remain until the age of 50. Service in the territorial army does not involve any periods of training. Auxiliary Military Service. This service is compulsory for all male citizens between the ages of 17 and 60 not performing regular military service and not belonging to the reserve or the territorial army. They are liable to be called up in case of war and mobilisation, or, speaking generally, when required for the defence of the country. Women may also be admitted to this service as volunteers..recruiting OF N.C.O.s AND OFFICERS. Regular officers are recruited through the military schools. Courses at these schools usually last for 2 years. Reserve officers are trained in the reserve officer cadet schools (the course lasts 6 months). Conscripts who, by reason of their standard of education, need only serve for 15 months, and in certain circumstances re-engaged N.C.O.s, are admitted to these schools. Reserve officers are also recruited from officers who retire from the regular army without qualifying for a pension. Reserve N.C.Os are recruited through special schools while they are still serving in the regular army. Every regiment has a school where the courses last from 3 to 7 months. Re-engaged N.C.O.s are recruited through special schools where the courses last from 5 to Io months. Men who have left a reserve N.C.O.s' school with the rank of corporal are admitted to these schools. Re-engagement is for at least 3 years, and is renewable.
POLAND 245 PREPARATORY MILITARY TRAINING Preparatory military training, which is optional, is given to pupils of secondary schools and to youths not belonging to such schools. It is under the direction of the Ministry of War, and is carried out by military preparation units commanded by an officer of the regular or reserve army belonging to the educational council of the school. EFFECTIVES OF THE ARMED FORCES (Extract from the communication from the Polish Government, dated September I 4 th, I931.) 1 1. EFFECTIVES OF THE LAND ARMED FORCES. Total effectives.... 265,980 Officers.... 17,895 2 Other effectives who have completed at least 24 months of service. 36,985 a Recruits not trained... 20,000 Note. - The conscript private soldiers consist of I93,o50 in service in the active army and I8,050 reservists called up for training for a period of one month. II. EFFECTIVES OF THE FORMATIONS ORGANISED ON A MILITARY BASIS. Other effectives who have Total effectives Officers completed at least 24 months of service Frontier zone protection corps... 26,611 865 4,17I Frontier guard..... 5,985 26a 4,954 Police... 31,675 901 27,422 Total... 64,271 2,028 36,547 III. EFFECTIVES OF THE AIR ARMED FORCES. Total effectives. 7,919 4 Effectives who have completed at least 24 months of service.. 2,415 1 Document C.6 4 3.M.257.1I931.IX (Conf. D.I7). 2 17,090 professional officers and 8o5 reserve officers (average number) called up for training for a period of 6 weeks. a 34,585 professional non-commissioned officers and 2,400 reserve non-commissioned officers (average number) called up for training for a period of one month. 4 This figure comprises 655 professional officers, 52 reserve officers who have served for a period of 6 weeks (making an average of 6 officers), 1,754 professional private soldiers, 5,144 conscript private soldiers, 3,105 reservists who have served for a period of 6 weeks (making an average of 360 reservists).
246 POLAND IV. SUMMARY TABLE OF BUDGETARY EFFECTIVES OF THE LAND ARMY. The figures in the following table, which are extracted from previous editions of the Armaments Year-Book, differ in character from the figures in the preceding table. These two kinds of returns are not comparable with each other. 1925-26 1926-27 1927-28 1928-29 I929-30 1930-31 1931-32 Officers.... I8,292 18,292 17,905 17,905 17,905 I 7,905 I7,905 N.C.O.s.... 38,248 37,722 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000 37,000 Men... 213,746 234,586 208,500 209,863 22o,589 210,966 2o10,966 Total... 270,286 290,600 263,405 264,768 265,494 265,87I 265,87r The following figures should be added to the column giving the number of officers for the year I931-32, on page 719 of the Armaments Year-Book I930-31: Officers : Marshal... I Generals....28 Colonels..... 476 Lieutenant-Colonels.... 875 Majors... 2,468 Captains.. 5,990 Lieutenants... 6,550 2nd Lieutenants... 1,417 Total.... 17,905 I. Navy. NUMBER OF UNITS AND TONNAGE '(Extract from the communication from the Polish Government, dated September I 4 th, I93I.)' Metric Tons 2 destroyers.... 3,08o 3 submarines...... 2,940 Total..... 6,020 The Polish navy also includes a number of vessels which are exempt in accordance with the draft Convention of the Preparatory Commission 1 Document C.6 4 3.M.257.x931.IX (Conf. D.1I7).
POLAND 247 for the Disarmament Conference (torpedo-boats, gunboats, minesweepers, etc.) of a total tonnage of II,944 tons (standard displacement), together with a vessel retained for training purposes of a tonnage of 8,oo0 tons. EFFECTIVES OF THE NAVAL FORCES (Extract from the communication from the Polish Government, dated September I 4 th, I93I.),1 I. AVERAGE DAILY NUMBER OF EFFECTIVES. Total effectives... 3,1o8 2 Officers... 275 Other effectives who have completed at least 27 months of service.. 1,202 3 II. BUDGETARY EFFECTIVES FOR THE YEAR' I93I-32. Officers............... 307 Petty-officers... I,188 Seamen... 1,892 Total... 3,387 MI. Expenditure on National Defence. i. ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR I931-32. (Extract from the communication from the Polish Government, dated September I 4 th, I931.) 1 Land forces Naval forces Air forces Total Zloty (ooo,ooo's) Effectives... 628.4 II.4 17.8 657.6 Transport... 53.8 3.2 5.1 62. I Buildings... 60.2 6.6 17.I 83.9 War material... I75-4 13.1 38.0 226.5 Expenditure not divisible among the above subheads... 25.4 - -- 25.4 Total... 943.2 34.3 78. o 1,055-5 NOTES. - year 1931-32. i. The above figures correspond to the budget estimates for the 1 Document C.643.M.257.I931.IX (Conf. D.I7). 2 This figure comprises 275 officers, 647 professional petty-officers, 555 seamen whose military service exceeds the normal period, 1,609 conscript seamen and 170 reservists (daily average: 22) called up for six weeks. ' This figure consists of 647 professional petty-officers and 555 seamen whose military service exceeds the normal period.
248 POLAND 2. The expenditure on land forces includes expenditure on formations organised on a military basis. These are: the Frontier Surveillance Corps, 59.2 million zloty: the Frontier Guard, 23.I million zloty; and the State Police Force, 125.6 million zloty. 2. BUDGET EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEARS I925 TO 1930-31. The data in the table below are from earlier editions of the Armaments Year- Book. These data should not be compared with those in the foregoing table, which is based on the answer of the Polish Government in response to the Council's request for information concerning the state of its armaments (see Preface, p. 5). 1925 1926 1927-28 1928-29 1929-30 1930-31 Estimates Closed accounts Estimates Zloty (ooo,ooo's) Ministry of Military and Naval Affairs... 640.5 689.0 823.2 851.4 847.6 827.I Deficit on military undertakings. 15.0 9.0 15.9 19.1 i6.5 17.2 Total... 655.5 698.0 839-I 870.5 864.1 844.3 Index numbers of: Wholesale prices (January 1914 125 181 1201 119 iio 96 2 = ioo).... Retail prices: Cost of living (January I9i4 = ioo)... I46 I78 119 123 123 II6* 'Series revised on the basis of the new zloty. 2 Average, April to December I930. 'Average, April 1930 to January i93 I. NOTES. - I. Expenditure on the air force is included in the budget of the Ministry of Military and Naval Affairs. 2. Expenditure on the Frontier Surveillance Corps is shown in the budget of the Ministry of the Interior. Expenditure on the frontier guard is shown in the budget of the Ministry of Finance. This expenditure has been estimated as follows: 1925 I926 1927-28 1 I928-29 1929-30 1 I930-31 Zloty (ooo,ooo's) Ministry of the Interior: Frontier surveillance corps.. 55.6 40.9 38.6 54-9 58.8 6I.I Ministry of Finance: Frontier guard... 18.3 i8.8 18.3 24-3 24.9 24.2 3. Military pensions are shown in the State budget under the special heading " Pensions " (in 1925 under the Ministry of Finance) and war pensions under " War Pensions " (in 1925 under the Ministry of Finance). They were estimated as follows : 1925 1926 1927-28 1928-29 1929-30 1930-31 (Zloty ooo,ooo's) Military pensions... 0Io.6 Io.4 I3. 23.3 24.6 29.8 War pensions.... 66.9 82.0 101.5 130-0o.o 134-1 163.3